Posted by Amazing [Anointed] on November 10, 1999 at 12:51:22 {AAJB0ph6mY/CPYT8orz2ASIIcexUto}:
As mentioned in my earlier posting, I was quite content with being a Witness. I left because of circumstances that forced my reevaluation of the Society's teachings and policies, not because of boring meetings, personality conflicts, or wanting a worldly life style.
I always found the meetings to be informative and enjoyable. If I was sick or caring for my children when they were fussy, then I did not get much out of a meeting. I found that good preparation and participation by giving talks or commenting made the meetings seem more lively.
I also enjoyed it when others would do extra research and make comments that were not canned parroting of the lesson at hand. Some would do enough research that sparked questions. There is nothing that prhibits a Witness from asking a question at a meeting. The tone in which the question is asked will determine how it is viewed and handled. In fact, some questions asked at meetings sparked the elders to write the Society for clarification on certain points.
That is not commonly done today.
Although, there is a difference between congregtions on the east coast as opposed to the west coast. While working on the east coast I found that the congregations in closer proximity to the Society's headquarters in New York were far more inclined and comfortable in calling the Society for information on teachings. The congregations on the west coast are less likely to want to bother the Society. This is not an absolute, but just a general trend.
When I became a JW in the 1960s, we had a more open environment to do additional research and ask questions at meetings. There was little thought about apostates or those trying to disrupt the program. I do admit that our research was 99% of the time done with Society publications and to support existing Watch Tower views.
As an elder, I was charged with coordinating public talks. One of the congregations I served in had a large number of elders who were very good speakers, and made the public talks very exciting and enjoyable.
During one of our elder meetings, I suggested that we grade outside speakers and give feedback on their talks. So we made a list of all elders in the circuit who gave public talks. We went through the list and graded them from A to F. A = excellent speaker, to be scheduled if at all possible. F = very poor speaker never to be invited into our Kingdom Hall. This served to keep our public talks of the best quality possible.
Nowadays, the public speakers are monitored by an elder in the congregation who has a copy of the talk outline. This is done to insure compliance with Society teaching and helps prevent apostate views from creeping in. I have also found that the quality of speakers has dimninished. I believe that this is a direct result of too great a concern over apostasy, and thus using men who are 'loyalist' rather then men who are truly 'qualified' to speak publicly.
As long as a person is going to remain in the organization, I recommend that they become proactive and prepare and research the material to whatever limit they have time for. Then, participate as much as possible. Ask kind questions at meetings, especially Book studies and Watchtower studies.
If done correctly and with love, this can add to the meetings being lively, and perhaps stimulate others to do research and start thinking about what is being taught. If enough Witnesses and those studying with Witnesses did this, it could lead to some measure of reform.
If nothing comes of it, then at least the meetings seem more lively and rewarding, rather than a place to write grocery lists or secretly listen to football games with an earphone.
If for some reason I were to attend meetings again, I would give it my all for the reasons mentioned above.
Simply Amazing